Investments (Details 9) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses	$ 932
Amount recognized for:
Insurance reserves	(106)
DAC and DSI	(228)
Amounts recognized	(334)
Deferred income taxes	(210)
Increase in unrealized net capital gains and losses	388
EMA limited partnerships
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses	1
Fixed income securities
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses	919
Equity securities
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses	11
Derivative instruments
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses	$ 1

Name:	alic_AmountRecognizedInUnrealizedNetCapitalGainsAndLossesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	alic_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents change in Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducement Costs adjustment included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	alic_ChangeInDeferredAcquisitionPolicyCostsAndDeferredSalesInducementCostImpactOnAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	alic_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents change in insurance reserve adjustment included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	alic_ChangeInInsuranceReservesImpactOnAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	alic_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	alic_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossRecognizedInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	alic_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents change in accumulated adjustments to Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Deferred Sales Inducement Costs, and insurance reserves related to unrealized capital gains and losses during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	alic_IncreaseDecreaseInAmountsRecognizedInInsuranceReservesDeferredAcquisitionPolicyCostsAndDeferredSalesInducementCostInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome
Namespace Prefix:	alic_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the pretax change in net unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities that has been included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity, during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesChangeInNetUnrealizedHoldingGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The change in unrealized holding gain (loss), net of tax, on available-for-sale securities included in a separate component of shareholders' equity during the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesChangeInNetUnrealizedHoldingGainLossNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the tax effects occurring during the period which are related to the net unrealized gain (loss) resulting from changes in the fair [carrying] value during the period of available-for-sale securities. Such tax affects would have been charged or credited directly to other comprehensive income or to related components of shareholders' equity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18498875&loc=d3e39076-109324

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 36

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 13

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesIncomeTaxExpenseOnChangeInUnrealizedHoldingGainOrLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration